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THE PRO’S VIEW ON THE PROS (AND CONS) OF TOURING
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The Pro’s View on the Pros (and Cons) of Touring
Read about the Pros and Cons of touring
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By: Leigh Dunning
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You’ve made the move to the Big City! You’re finally learning to navigate the subway when you get the call. You’ve been cast in a show…outside of the city. Should you pack up just as you’re getting settled? The Pros’ weigh in on the “pros” of taking that job.
Many performers who make their way to New York have the dream of living and working in New York. As a young performer, accepting a job in a regional theater or on a National tour may be your first step to attaining that goal. On tour, performers gain valuable professional experience that cannot be duplicated in the classroom. From learning the skills and stamina required to perform several shows a week, to creating and managing travel and a life away from home. These skills will come in handy throughout the life of your performing career. A few of the great benefits of the touring life include:
Building your resume
Your resume helps any casting director determine your experience level. There is no better way to prove yourself than by accepting quality work outside the city. You’ll build your resume and gain valuable stage experience in productions often comparable to Broadway.
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| The girls riding in the bus. |
Travel
Jennifer E. Davis (2nd National tour of 42nd St.) expressed how the most incredible part of touring for her was the travel. The cast of 42nd St. opened in Japan before returning to the US for the rest of the tour. “In Japan we were treated like celebrities and in the US we were able to see parts of the country we might never have gotten to see on our own.”
Saving Money
Touring can be a great way to save money (if you can resist the temptation to shop in each new city you visit.) Subletting your apartment takes the expense of a rent check off your plate, giving you the option to really buckle down and save. Returning to NY with the cushion of some extra savings makes your next job search less frantic.
Making Contacts
Performers on the non-equity tour of “Crazy for You” were lucky enough to work with Broadway choreographer, Joey McKneely (Boy from Oz). If you’re touring with a show that is currently running on Broadway, you will most certainly work with members of the original creative team. Building a working relationship with such industry professionals is a wonderful way to make connections in the business and can benefit your career in the long run.
The Chance to Perform Close to Home
What could be better than performing for friends and family in your hometown or somewhere close to it? Touring often affords you the opportunity to do just that! Giving you the chance to share your success and growth with those who have known and supported you the longest!
Gone are the days when touring productions couldn’t hold a candle to the Broadway productions. At this point, many regional theatres and production companies are producing Broadway caliber equity and non-equity tours. Companies like Big League, Troika, Phoenix and Dodgers, just to name a few. They hold frequent auditions casting both National and International tours. So, when your brief contract at a regional theatre ends or the tour is over, you’ll return to the city with a new group of friends, a renewed determination and a wealth of experience. Not such a bad deal is it?
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